Phrasal-Verbs – Letter O

– Phrasal-Verbs & Verb Phrases – Letter O –

Oo

(to) Open The Floor For Discussion – This is an Idiomatic Phrasal Verb that is used in any sort of debate, or very formal discussion, meeting, event wherein, there may be many people who wish to talk but in order to maintain order, it is decided that only one person is allowed to speak at a time (as opposed to “Open Debate”.) This is usually mediated by an informal person, and we say that when the one person is allowed to speak. That person “Has The Floor”… So to say the *The Floor Is Open For Discussion* means that people who were not scheduled to speak may now ask questions (people like press, the public, and non-decision-making people, etc.)

(to) Open Up A Can Of Worms – This is an Idiomatic Phrasal Verb which is used Metaphorically to say:

“To create a potentially chaotic/messy/crazy situation that may be difficult to handle, or may get out of control.”

This phrase could have come from a popular toy that was labelled as a “can of worms” – perhaps similar to one that a person would buy to use for fishing bait, and would have been available in America in the days before they switched to using styrofoam “to go” containers. This toy had a large “worm” which was essentially a long spring, covered in material made to look like a worm. Then when the person would open it, the worm would shoot out of the can, and you then had to work to get it back in. But more likely, this was a phrase long before that toy was around and someone came up with the toy based on a phrase… Basically – (to) “Open Up A Can Of Worms” is to do something which might end up creating a lot of chaos as a result.

By creating and releasing a supposedly stolen ‘sex tape’, Paris Hilton really opened up a can of worms. She certainly got the fame that she desired, but now everyone thinks that she is a useless slut, and her grandfather has taken her out of his will, and she will no longer inherit any of the billions that she thought she would.” 😀

(to)Overcome (one’s)Fears – This is a verbphrase which means to no longer be controlled by one’s fear (of something or everything)… “I used to be afraid of the dark, but I spent a night in the forest by myself with no fire and *overcame my fear* of the dark.” – (See Also: “(to) Face (one’s) Fear“